Haslam could still be indicted in Pilot Flying J scandal

Posted by Mike Florio on February 11, 2016, 10:04 AM EST

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After Pilot Flying J agreed to pay nearly $100 million in fines as a result of the fuel-rebate scandal, most assumed CEO and Browns owner Jimmy Haslam would not face prosecution. After the recent indictment of eight Pilot Flying J employees (including former president Mark Hazelwood), some assumed that Haslam’s absence from the group of defendants for now translates to absence forever.

The truth, as recently explained by John Caniglia of the Cleveland Plain Dealer, is that Haslam could still face charges, especially if Hazelwood strikes a plea deal that includes giving testimony against Haslam.

As Caniglia notes, an FBI affidavit from April 2013 suggested that both Hazelwood and Haslam were aware of the scheme.

The league has said that there’s no evidence Haslam violated league policy in any way. In August 2013, SportsBusiness Journal reported that, if Haslam were forced to step down, his father, Jim, would take over. New Hall of Famer Eddie DeBartolo was forced to transfer the 49ers to his sister after pleading guilty to a felony charge of failing to report an effort by former Louisiana Governor Edwin Edwards to extort $400,000 from DeBartolo in order to secure a casino license.

I hope Haslam suffers little or no consequences, JUST like NFL players get.

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Jimmy is probably shady and a total disgrace to the NFL. Poor vetting by Goodell and his team to allow him to become an owner in the first place. The Browns best chance to improve is to get a better owner who understands how to run a team.

mayfieldroadboy says:Feb 11, 2016 10:52 AM

Fire the coaches; cut the players. All the vicious mob-chants out of Cleveland are stunning. Now the fans want a new owner, as if that will drop a Lombardi trophy through the roof of the Rock-and-Roll Hall of Fame.

All this has been tried over the past two decades. Maybe it’s time for new rational thinking fans.

alewatcher says:Feb 11, 2016 10:56 AM

I hope Haslam winds up in jail, or at least is forced to sell the team. This has to be one of the worst decisions in NFL history, to let a guy with serious fraud allegations become an owner.

The NFL loves to hold players accountable, now it’s time to hold owners and the NFL itself accountable.

Even if Jimmy has to go away, the team will be either transferred to his father add the story states or more likely his wife. I don’t think it’s any coincidence that See (his wife) had been more involved with the operations of the team lately. So, to say,”the Browns need new ownership” and “it would be good for the fans to get new ownership” etc. It ain’t gonna happen. It’s going to stay in the family

Umm you do realize that Jimmy was a Minority of owner of the Steelers from 2008 until he bought the browns. Also NFL ownership has nothing to do with Goodell, it has to do with the 32 owners. so you you should blame your team’s owner for allowing this scumbag to come on

uglydingo says:
Feb 11, 2016 10:29 AM

dryzzt23 says:
Feb 11, 2016 10:12 AM

I hope Haslam suffers little or no consequences, JUST like NFL players get.

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Jimmy is probably shady and a total disgrace to the NFL. Poor vetting by Goodell and his team to allow him to become an owner in the first place. The Browns best chance to improve is to get a better owner who understands how to run a team.

Oh for God’s sake! Just what do y’all want? I’ve been a Cleveland fan since I was staying out of my parents’ way watching Jim Brown and this is just getting old. It’s always something: owners, coaches, players, fans, etc, etc. The fact is there have been alot of mistakes made by owners, it’s been difficult to get coaches, the right players haven’t been there at the same time…lots of excuses but Haslam possibly being a crook is the LEAST problem the Browns have. Yes, Jimmy needs to let his new people run the show. I think he’s trying to get the right people there but from the bs on this site, the Cuyahoga is still burning! (That was about 50 years ago). Other teams have issues too, it’s just the media love to pile on Cleveland.

Jimmy is probably shady and a total disgrace to the NFL. Poor vetting by Goodell and his team to allow him to become an owner in the first place. The Browns best chance to improve is to get a better owner who understands how to run a team.
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Exactly…you mean billionaires didnt run a background on this guy, or check references? WTF? Seems to me like an all around shady individual, and they allowed him into their league lol.

harrisonhits2 says:Feb 11, 2016 11:22 AM

Haslam stole millions and millions of dollars from his customers. Probably used some of that money to buy the Browns.